Diabetes awareness quiz

Do you know everything you need to know about diabetes? Take the following quiz and test your knowledge. The questions are either true or false.

#1. Diabetes occurs because the body has too little sugar in the blood.

False. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed for the body to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life. When the body does not make enough insulin or the body cannot use insulin, sugar builds up in the blood. Diabetes is diagnosed when too much sugar remains in the blood.

#2. There is only one kind of diabetes.

False. There are 3 kinds of diabetes, Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is caused when there is not enough insulin produced by the body. It can occur in children or adults. It is treated with insulin shots, diet, exercise, and blood sugar monitoring. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in people over 40. The cause is the body's inability to make enough insulin or properly use the insulin. Type 2 can usually be controlled with dietary changes and exercise. Often insulin or other medicine or both are needed to control this type of diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a form of type 2 that women may develop when pregnant and almost always goes away after the baby is born. Treatment for gestational diabetes includes diet changes, tight blood sugar control, and sometimes insulin shots.

#3. You can tell you have diabetes by the way you feel.

False. About one-third of the people who have diabetes do not know it. Common symptoms include increased thirst, increased urination, and hunger. Tell your healthcare provider if there is a history of diabetes in your family.

#4. There is a cure for diabetes.

False. Diabetes cannot be cured, but it can usually be controlled with proper monitoring and treatment. The cause of diabetes is still a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors (such as obesity and lack of exercise) appear to play roles. Perhaps once the cause is fully understood a cure for diabetes can be developed.

#5. If you have Type 2 diabetes, all you have to do is take a pill.

False. Controlling blood sugars with proper exercise and eating healthy is essential for people with Type 2 diabetes in order to maintain good health. Losing weight, knowing what symptoms to watch for, and following preventive care (such as urine tests and yearly eye, foot, and dental exams) are all part of staying healthy.

#6. Diabetes may be prevented.

True. People at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the disease by making lifestyle changes. These include diet, exercise, and losing some weight.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File HEAL4653.RF2 VRS# 4653 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999, 2002-2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.